Chapter 5
Dawn was breaking, and Pearl's room looked like a tornado had hit it—clothes scattered, drawers ripped open, every inch in total chaos.
Bathed in the pale glow of early morning, only Pearl and Gabriel remained, tense and facing off in the wreckage.
She'd never seen Gabriel look so wrecked. Sweat glued his hair to his temples, his robe was streaked with mud from rushing over, one sleeve was messily rolled up, and his long hands were filthy from digging through her things.
He drew in several harsh breaths, trying to calm himself, but his feet just kept moving toward her, almost on their own.
"Pearl—you should never have touched the Sigil of the Covenant.
"You can't bear the weight of that sin. Give it back. Now!" Gabriel demanded, his voice thick with warning.
Pearl flinched at his words. He'd never been this harsh with her before, and she'd never been accused so bluntly—never felt so wronged.
"I told you, I didn't take it! I don't even want it!" she shouted, her voice cracking with emotion.
Her tears fell, dripping from her chin as she choked on her sobs.
But in the next second, Gabriel tore the pearl necklace apart, sending pearls flying everywhere. Pearl fell to her knees, scrambling on the floor, desperately trying to gather them up.
But Gabriel didn't stop there. He crushed the last few pearls in his fist, grinding them into powder and letting them fall to the ground, cold and merciless.
Pearl scrambled to catch the scattered pearls, but a sudden gust of wind swept them away, leaving her clutching at nothing.
"Gabriel! Why won't you ever believe me?
"Ever since she fell from that mountain, whatever Alice says, you just take it as the truth. Did you ever even ask me what really happened?" Pearl cried out, her voice raw with hurt and anger.
Gabriel finally snapped out of it, just staring at Pearl falling apart right in front of him. For a moment, he was too shocked to move.
Five years—and he'd never seen Pearl like this before, crying her heart out, completely shattered.
Just then, a rapid knock sounded at the door, and Alice rushed in.
She was holding the bloodstained Sigil of the Covenant, her movements hurried as she grabbed Gabriel's arm.
"I'm sorry, Gabriel! I found it! Maybe... maybe I was mistaken..." Alice said, her voice shaky.
Gabriel finally turned, his gaze landing on Pearl, his eyes full of complicated feelings.
"I'll get you a new necklace. Something even better," he said.
With daylight streaming in, Gabriel could only trail after Alice back to Frostvale Sanctuary for morning prayers.
Even though morning had come, the blizzard outside showed no signs of letting up. Each icy gust sent a chill straight through Pearl, making her flinch as she knelt down, gathering the scattered pearls one by one. Her tears, as big as raindrops, splashed onto the pearls, mixing with the cold in her shaking hands.
She couldn't hold it in anymore—Pearl finally broke down, wailing, her sobs echoing through the empty room.
She never imagined that even now, Gabriel couldn't say a real apology—not even once.
Did he really see her as just another face in the crowd, just one of his faithful believers?
He thought that even if he kept his promise to Alice, I still loved him.
He tore apart her mother's only keepsake just because of something Alice said, and she still loved him.
Not anymore.
*****
By noon, the Volunteer Affairs Office sent an urgent notice—Pearl had to turn in all her volunteer work records, plus everything she'd documented about the region, to the organization.
Pressed for time, Pearl packed up in a hurry and set off with her files, taking the only shortcut she could—which meant she'd have to pass right by Sanctuary Lake.
The lake was perfectly still, not a ripple in sight. A chilling, phosphorescent blue mist crept across the surface, making everything feel almost unreal.
Through the haze, Pearl thought she glimpsed a girl—her hair woven into dozens of tiny braids, turquoise and red coral beads dangling over her brow, a rainbow-colored skirt cinched at her waist. It was Alice.
Pearl started to walk away, but Alice called after her, stopping her in her tracks.
"Leaving so soon, Pearl? Aren't you going to talk to me before you go?" Alice called out.
Pearl cut in quickly, not letting Alice get another word in.
"Don't bother talking to me. I'm leaving for good in two days," she said, her tone cold and final.
For a moment, an odd, unsettling smile flickered across Alice's face, but she quickly covered it up. She walked right up to Pearl and gently rested her hand on Pearl's shoulder.
"What a coincidence... Tomorrow night, the elders at Frostvale Sanctuary are throwing a wedding ceremony for Gabriel and me. So, Pearl, don't forget to drop by before you head out," Alice said, her voice sweet as honey.
Pearl listened in silence as she clutched the files. She'd always known this day might come, but she'd never really believed it would actually happen. Just hearing Alice say it—her heart felt like it was being ripped apart.
Suddenly, Pearl cut Alice off, putting on a brave face as she held out the wolf's tooth Gabriel had given her last night, showing it right in front of Alice.
"Alice, you really are pathetic. Gabriel—he swore before every deity here that he'd only ever love you. This proves it.
"You recognize this, right? It's the first charm Gabriel ever hung on his dagger—your guardian, your hero. It's proof of how much he loved you."